SATURDAY’S RUGBY.

Grey River Argus, 17 July 1922, Page 3

SATURDAY’S RUGBY.

STAB DEFEAT UNITED. COBDEN JUNIORS BEAT AIARIST. Saturday’s games at the Park were not spectacular although hard. The senior match between United and Star saw the latter emerge victorious by llpts. -o 5. United contested every inch of the way and their defence against the superior backs of the opposing side was not to be disregarded. It was no surprise to see Cobden put Alarist juniors down by Spts. to G, for the latter team was exceptionally weak. A surprise eventuated at Ngahere when the country team defeated United by 14pts. to G. United fourth grades also went down. D. 11.5. defeating them by lOpts. to 9. RESULTS AT A GLANCE. Stcr I. (11), United I. (5). Ngahere 11. (14), United 11. (3). Cobden 11. (8), Marist 11. (6). D. 11.5. IV. (10), United IV. (9). Star V. (27), D. 11.5. (0). Star IV. forfeited to Marist IV. STAB I. (11) V. UNITED I. (5.) Star seniors met United at 3 p.m. and defeated them by llpts. to 5. The victors had slightly the better of the game throughout, although their advantage was particularly apparent towards the end of the second spell when they established a persistent siege to the. United goal. The United team was playing two new men—Cosgrove at full-back and James in the forwards. Both these players justified their inclusion. The Star combination was superior to that of United and it was this quality which won tb.-e game for the former. There was a lot of give and take during the first portion of the game and United were in the load for a time. Star scored the first try, when Williams took Russell’s kick anil transferring to Mclntosh instituted the rush. Ring cut in near the line, got the ball from McIntosh and dodged over. Star backs— Mosley, Mclntosh, Nelson and Ring frequently showed up and various attempts of United to break through were frustrated by the opposition forwards. Goodall rarely missed an opportunity. Play was hard but very interesting. Star passed well and United’s tackling was worth watching. Stevens on the wing being outstanding in th-e threequarter department. United’s try was the outcome of a spectacular run by Russell, who ••d a pass from Nelson to Mclntosh m his own 25, and ran the length of the field to the opposite goal, the efforts of the Star backs to catch him being fruitless. It was a great run and ho grounded between the posts. Armstrong put the ball over the bar. United forward pack made frequent rushes but could not penetrate the opposition, the score at halt time being 5—3 i n favour of United. r l he second spell was a repetition of the first, but about half way through United seemed to fade away and Star kept up a constant pressure on their goal. Nelson scor'd the second try for Star after a passing bout across the field and his kick at goal missed. Star forwards then took charge and despite a strenuous defence fought their way through United, Ring registering a further try. Nelson converted. Brown of the Star team was removed

with an injured leg. Time saw the score at Star 11—United 5. Mr W. Williams refereed. COBDEN 11. (8) V. MARIST 11. («3J Cobden and Marist juniors met at 1.30 p.m, Cobden put out an excep tionally strong team, whilst their op ponent’s team was weakened by the

exclusion of Larcombe, Doogan, Nelson. -Moore and W. Kennedy. The game however, was a very even one. although Cobden had the misfortune early in the first spell to lose their warrior player, Flaherty, who received injuries to his knee necessitating his removal .from the field. The game was also hardly contested the whole way, and Marist did most of the attacking -work, particularly in the first spell. The Cobden boys played a loose scraggy game and kept on the ball all the time, although there was not a great deal of organisation; and passing bouts were singutariy absent from their play. Marist forwards played fair but the wings were weak, and all the passing bouts which commenced with great promise finished very badly. Many opportunities were lost by the backs failing to support their rushes. Cobden forwards kept I them moving all the time. Play in the first half —and in fact all through the game —was spasmodic, travelling quickly from one end of the field to the otherf. Cobden secured the first score, when Flaherty got the fall from a pack at half-way ami made a run for the line. When downed on the corner he transferred to O’Hara who grounded. Flaherty kicked a /good {from well lout. , MarisS boys were not working well together and in tin* scrum their efforts were weak. Both sides were lacking in scrum work. A forward rush by Marist culminated in O’Hal lab an forcing his way over, registering the first try for his side. His kick failed. TTahert.v was injured and was replaced by Lowther. The game became series of alternate attack and derencc, the score at half time being 5—3 in favour of Cobden. The second half was as hard as—if not harder than—the. first, Marist being determined to

even the score. li. Quinn accomplished this when, after a strenuous forward go, he shot out and grounded the ball on the line. Jackson failed with the kick. Cobden assumed the offensive and forced Marist back to their own area. Curtis took advantage of an opening and dodged over, the kick falling short. The last portion of the game was conuiied to loose rushes. Marist attempting in vain to penetrate the Cobden line. The final score was Cobden B—Alarist 6. Mr J. I'. Wilson referred. ADVANCING THE GAME! Whilst in most places of the size and importance of Greymouth, the authorities controlling football fixtures make a practice of providing a table in a handy position for the reporters, the journalists who chronicle local sport have been compelled in the p-st (except in rep matches) to run along the line with a pad and pencil and follow play as best they can. This ] would be quite alright if left at that, for I realise that Rugby Union officials have other matters to attend to beyond devoting their spare time to the convenience of mere reporters. However, what the common sport would term “the limit’’ was reached at the I’aric lon Saturday when a reporter was orIdered from the line to a position behind the fence by Mr Fairbairn, an official of the Rugby Union. It is recognised by every reasonable thinking person that it is extremely difficult to follow the intricacies of the game from behind the rails in among the ] crowd; and as the reporter in question was not departing from his usual practice, and was not a nuisance to anyone, the order of the official mentioned ap- ' peared to be the result of his individual attitude, rather than his 1 nion s attitude. Some people think that tne> are the only pebbles on the beach, but a reporter at a football match is trying to help the public to follow up the game, and when a particular official acts as this one did, it can bo eonsiderl ed merely a vindictive action totally unexpected, and wholly uncalled Tor. So much was made clear later. A deputation consisting of two Union officials approached the reporter at half time, and requested his return to the line, in the interests of the game, On the explanation from Captain Cox that “he was boss, there; and not Mr Fairbairn,’’ the reporter returned to tnc line and “carried on.’’

NOTES. The junior game on the I’ark on Saturday’ was outstanding for knock-outs,

play being stopped on frequent occasions in order to revive some unfortunate plover. It was noticeable, however, that every accident was the result of clean tackling. Mr W. Williams justified his selection as referee in the senior match on Saturday. It would be well for the Rugby Union to institute a rule in regard to players turning up punctually at the hour a. which the game is timed to commence. It was considerably after 1.30 p-in. when the junior game commenced on Saturday, and the senior contest was, in consequence, delayed for nearly ~5 minutes. WESTLAND GAMES. (Special to “Argus. HOKITIKA, duly 15. Pollowing were the results of the Rugby games in Westland yesterday: .JUNIORS. Kiwis 16 beat Rirnu 3. Arahura 29 beat Kokatahi (5. Excelsior S beat Hari Hari •». SENIORS. Kiwis 3 beat United 3. Excelsiors 19 bent Ilari Hari • Kiwis and United drew their match after a very willing game all throng.). Kiwis had only 14 men in the second half, but they had the best of the game. Both teams attempted to open the play up. .Jones scored for Kiwis, and Wells for Uniteds. Jones also scored another fair try, but the referee disallowed it. Kiwis were unlucky to lose, and, had better judgment been used, they must have won. For Kiwis Devaney, Jones, Walker, and Cunningham were prominent, while Coglan, Cutbnsh Brothers, Gifford, and Glass were the best of the United. Ste vens played a wonderful game at fiu

back. Mr Cutbush controlled the game. Poss Irving retired owing to injuries at the end of the first half. CHRISTCHURCH RESULTS. (Special to “Argus.”) CHRISTCHURCH, July 15. Yesterday’s Rugby matches here resulted as follows: — Marists 14 beat Sydenham-Lyttelton 0 Christchurch 14 beat Old Hoys I'-’. Linwood 3 beat Merivale 0. 'Varsity 20 beat Albion 3. GAMES AT WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, July 16. The following are the results of Saturday’s rugby games: — I’etone (22) beat Varsity (8). Ponake (19) beat Berhampore (nil). Marists (IS) beat Old Boys (nil). Oriental (ft) beat Athletic (nil).

j Selwyn (8) beat Wellington GAMES AT WESTPORT. (Special to “Argus.”) WESTPORT, July 16. At Victoria Square on Saturday Stars beat Denniston by 9pts to 7. Rival juniors beat Pirates by 12 to 6. At Granite' Rovers beat Mokiliinui by Opts to 3. Westport thirds were beaten by Rovers by (> pts to 3. PLAYER'S SUDDEN DEATH. HAMILTON. July Iv. While playing football on Saturday E. Smallwood, aged fifteen, was tackled and fell to the ground, but resumed playing and was again tackled. He was seen to be ill and was taken to the dressing shed. He was atterfd--1 ed to by two doctors, but died tnen.y minutes later from concussion of the brain and contusion of the ehest. All the matches were abandoned. Deceased was a son of Sidney Smallwood, a plumbing foreman on the Railwav at Frankton.

way at iuujmuu. BLACKBALL (3) V. GKEYMOUTH (0). This game on the Bee. on Saturday saw Blackball put it over Grey, whose defence they .jiggered, and they won by three goals to nil. Clarke notched two of the goals, by nice judgment, giving Bennett little chance, while Kerr scored the third. In th* first spell Grey did fairly, Sharp, Howie, Smith and Compton being noticeable. Clark. Balderstone, Kerr, and Hall got in a lot of work for the winners, who have now a very good position in the competition. Mr Baker was referee. ciißisTCHur.cn games.

(Special to “Argus.”) CHRISTCHURCH, July IG. Yesterdav’s Soccer games here resulted as follows:— St. Albans 2 drew with Sunnyside 2. Nomads 1 beat. Western 0. Corinthians defaulted to St. Albans. Excelsior 2 drew with Villa 2. Lvttelton 4 beat United 1.